At this point in the semester, the sight of your campus gym’s weight and cardio rooms is probably more nauseating than exhilarating. And while our Pinterest boards and collection of colorful sports bras may tell a different story, many of us know deep down that our time running on the treadmill or riding the stationary bike isn’t exactly the highlight of our day.

That being said, a ton of colleges offer much more exciting alternative solutions to our monotonous workout woes: fitness classes. These instructor-led group workouts typically incorporate a combination of cardio and strengthening moves that help to burn calories and build muscle, while the participant is able to familiarize themselves with a specific type of exercise. Additionally, an article by Dr. Dolan in the ACSM Fit Journal suggested that group exercising promotes consistency, positive social interaction and diversity.

If you’re looking for a different way to turn your summer body fitness goals into reality, look no further than HC’s guide for finding the perfect fitness class for you. But first, let’s knock out some common fears many collegiettes have about trying group fitness classes.

1. I’ll be the only newbie who doesn’t know what I’m doing

How will you know if you never try? It’s normal to get the jitters when attempting something out of your comfort zone, but odds are you will find that fitness classes are definitely worth the risk! Take fitness class fanatic and HC Amherst Campus Correspondent Evelyn Kramer’s experience with guided workout classes: “I can cater to my own specific fitness goals and have fun doing it.”

2. It will throw off my normal gym schedule

While a lot of us consider simply stepping foot inside the gym an accomplishment, participating in a fitness class can keep you from slacking off once you’re there. Bettina Weiss, a collegiette at Connecticut College, explained the clear benefit she found when she started attending spin classes; “What you put in is what you get out. If you want a really hard workout, you can make it happen in a fitness class. If you want to slack off, then it's your loss!” In fitness classes, collegiettes are able to progress on a personal basis, but with the guidance of a trained instructor. And maybe a pre-scheduled “gym appointment” is just what you need to give yourself that extra motivation after a long day, “It is a lot easier to force myself to go [to the gym] when class is at a certain time,” says Katie King from Western Michigan University.

3. I won’t be able to keep up

“At first I was a little bit apprehensive, because there are a lot of mirrors and people. However, after I realized how much I enjoyed spinning, I forgot about those nerves,” says Weiss of her first spin class experience. While many college gals feel that they will be lost, confused, or not up to par in a fitness class, many are designed to be “user-friendly” and include skills that can be mastered over time. Have a little faith in yourself, girl!

Now that you know that you can, it’s time to choose a style of class that best fits your exercise needs. Take a look at our guide to classes below.

If you’re looking to achieve inner piece, rock some serious core muscles and improve your flexibility, Yoga-inspired classes may be your solution.

Towards the end of the semester, feeling peaceful and serene seems just about as likely as your chances of breezing right through that chemistry final. And while college does provide its fair share of super-stressful-can’t-catch-a-break days, most campuses also provide some form of yoga classes that are worth checking out. Need more convincing? The ACSM suggests that yoga can be used to combat issues like sore muscles, joint pain and stiffness.

Although those of you who are not yet Yogies may think that yoga is just performing a bunch of awkward positions while breathing deeply, think again. The series of poses performed in these classes are grouped to encourage the flexibility of your muscles, and mastering correct breathing technique keeps those core muscles in check- just two of the many benefits yoga-inspired workouts have to offer.

Hot Yoga, or Bikram yoga, consists of performing traditional yoga sets in a room that heated between 105 and 110 degrees. “It is definitely a hard workout,” Katie says, who takes a class at an off-campus hot yoga studio. “You sweat a ton, like dripping (that part’s gross), but after you relax it is the best feeling ever. I would even wake up at 5 am to go to the early class when I had a busy day.”

While it is difficult for campus exercise facilities to maintain the temperature spike required for Bikram, many surrounding gyms and yoga studios offer the class for a discounted rate to students.

Vinyasa yoga is a more traditional, fast-paced yoga class that involves doing specific poses in a particular order while focusing on breathing technique, according to Fit Day. If you’re interested in yoga but want to try some other workout types as well, check with your campus gym to see if they offer Les Mill’s BodyFlow; a triple threat yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi workout combination that incorporates high-intensity exercises with lengthening, breathing-centered poses and burns an average of 400 calories per class.  Namaste!

If you want a cardio class that tones thigh and calf muscles, increases stamina and offers a just-as-intense alternative to running, try spin and cycling classes.

While spin and cycling classes have been a staple of the fitness class scene for decades, recent years have brought forth a whole slew of variations to the traditional workout.

Having a personal stationary bike means you can control your own resistance levels throughout the class. Another perk? Spin classes often play some pretty solid soundtracks, which help add some excitement to your workouts and push them to the next level.

Weiss discussed why she can’t get enough of the spin classes offered at her on-campus gym at Connecticut College: “I don't obsess over measurements but instead get to enjoy the music and work as hard as I can for the allotted time and be happy with the results. I prefer spinning so much more than running.”

Sarah Gilson from Loyola Marymount shared a similar experience after trying her first cycling class; “I was hooked! You work really hard, but it goes by so quickly that I forget how hard I am actually working. I look forward to going every week!”

Love the bike but trying to avoid a boring routine? Try SoulCycle, which adds in hand weights and core exercises to a traditional spin routine, after the brand’s founders became bored with the monotonous nature of a standard spin class. Les Mill’s RPM class uses beats from the class’s soundtrack to guide the intensity and cycling speed, giving participants a sweat-inducing interval workout. Triathlon biking workout classes have also been popping up on campuses all over and work to improve participants pace and form using stationary bikes.

Seem like something you would love? Check with your campus gym to find out what spin classes are offered and how you can sign up!

If you want a fun way to incorporate strength training into your workouts to get sculpted and toned all over, try a lifting-oriented fitness class.

Ah, the weight room. Sweaty guys, loud clanking, obnoxious grunting… it’s probably just about the last place you want to find yourself, ever. While strength training is an important component of any fitness regimen, it’s not always something that makes it very high on our priority while rolling solo at the gym. The solution? Try a weight-incorporated fitness class, which combine strengthening workouts in a sequential order, ensuring you hit all muscle groups and perform an adequate amount of repetitions. The best part of these classes is that strength training burns calories and boosts metabolism around the clock; one side effect we certainly don’t mind.

Kelly Thurston, a collegiette from Salisbury University, participates in Les Mill’s BodyPump two or three times a week, “It’s an all-over strengthening workout that is low weight-high repetition, so it helped me tone up all over without getting bulky.”

BodyPump, a class that goes through a set of workouts, each of which is intended to target different areas of the body, is offered on-campus at many universities nationwide and burns approximately 500-700 calories per class.

Looking for something a little (well, a lot) more intense? Crossfit, which is offered at schools like the University of Nevada and University of Alabama, consists of training sequences designed to maximize strength and endurance. And given that the program is modeled off training systems used at the Police Academy, consider it a “no frills” way to get a ripped body. Check out this video for a closer look on what Crossfit training consists of and be sure to ask your school’s campus recreation department about any current Crossfit programs being offered on your campus or in the surrounding area.

Looking to burn calories, listen to great music and improve your balance and dance floor skills? Say hello to dance-inspired fitness classes.

Who said a workout has to be boring and tedious?! Dance-oriented fitness classes are on the rise in a major way on college campuses across the country, and for good reason. Not only do these group classes give participants a way to let loose in a positive and beneficial way, but they have also proven to be quite the calorie burner. Perfect for those of us that are a little gym weary, dance classes are also a great way for collegiettes to get into a consistent workout routine.

Mariah Moses, a Virginia State student and Zumba lover, describes what keeps her coming back to the wildly popular dance aerobics class offered at many schools, “I like it better than being in the gym because I feel like you can’t really do too much in just the gym. Zumba involves more movement and is way more fun.” A chance to burn between 400 and 600 calories in an hour just by shaking it to great music? We’ll take it!

For those of you looking for something that provides some serious muscle toning, try Pure Barre, a personal favorite of Alabama alum Jessica Johnson; “I've been going to Pure Barre four to five days a week and I love it. I’m addicted.” Barre classes consist of sets of workouts (performed to fun music) that incorporate a ballet barre, light weights, bands, and sometimes other equipment. The exercises target typical “problem areas” (arms, abs, thighs, and butt), and also work to refine the participant’s center of gravity and overall posture (tutus optional, but HC-approved).

Want to add some culture to your fitness regimen? Look around on campus or nearby gyms for classes like salsa and belly dancing, which give participants a way to learn about the ideology and technique behind these classical dance styles while reaping the benefits of a stellar workout (along with some very impressive dance moves for weddings and formals). Looking for something a little more non traditional? Try Nia, a class that uses inspiration from all sorts of dance and movement styles to deliver participants with an all over workout that is said to heal, tone, and bring peace of mind. You can find Nia classes offered in your school’s area here!

So whether you feel the relaxation of yoga, the fun of dance, the intensity of strength training or the endurance of spin would benefit you the most (however no one said you had to pick just one!), start your spring with a group fitness class that is sure to provide results in more ways the one. Good luck from HC!

Today, I'll be sharing with you my thoughts on the OPI Brazil Collection, after sampling all of the colors — it was a hard job, but somebody had to do it! In typical OPI fashion, all of the colors were named after certain aspects of Brazil and Brazilian culture that inspired the fun colors. 

Here is what the full collection looks like:

Below are short reviews of each of the colors — and close ups of each lacquer.

Next Stop: The Bikini Zone

This color was a shiny and sparkly purple-hued tone. It applied really smoothly, and there is a lot of variation with it. For example, one coat can be used over another color to provide a glittery top coat, or you can just apply two coats on its own, like I did here.

Don't Bossa Nova Me Around 

An off-white, cream colored neutral, this shade was definitely one of my favorites. Before reviewing these polishes, my favorite neutral was Farah from Zoya, but this is now a close second!

Taupe-less Beach

Another great neutral, this beautiful shade of taupe was awesome. It applied the smoothest of all of the colors I tried, and I really enjoyed it!

I Sao Paolo Over There

I had a hard time describing this shade. Overall, I'd say it's a gray toned color that is similar to, but a bit darker than, Taupe-less Beach. I also really liked this one too. I don't think that I would wear this color as much as some of the others, but it is definitely office and internship appropriate.

OPI Scores a Goal!

This was more of a maroon shade. It's also pretty professional, since it's not a fire engine red. FYI: it did take two coats to become opaque, so be mindful of that!

AmazON...AmazOFF

This dark teal is certainly a color I'll be sporting once my summer tan comes in! It's both fun and edgy!

I Just Can't Cope-Acabana

This yellow was extremely bright, and took two thicker coats to become opaque. It will also look good with a nice tan, but not for a summer internship!

Where Did Suzie's Man-go?

Although I enjoyed the clever name, this was my least favorite color in the set. I thought it wasn't very flattering, and it's not visually appealing either. I don't know when I would ever wear it, or what outfits to pair it with. If it's more your style, use two coats, since when I applied one it was still sheer. 

Toucan Do It If You Try 

This color looked like a light coral in the bottle, but was a lot more orange once I applied it. I thought it was a bold, bright color that seemed pretty authentic to Brazil.

Kiss Me, I'm Brazilian

This was the best stereotypical Barbie pink ever. I absolutely loved every part of this color. It's flirty, girly, and super cute. It also requires two coats to be opaque (like most in this collection).

Live. Love. Carnaval.

This color was very similar to Toucan Do It If You Try, but it was a little less orange. It applied well, plus it was bright and cheerful.

Red Hot Rio

No collection is complete without a classic red. This required two coats as well.

Overall, I would rate this whole collection a 7 out of 10. I definitely preferred the neutral colors over the bright colors, but all of them applied pretty smoothly. My top recommendations are Don't Bossa Nova Me Around, Kiss Me I'm Brazilian, and Taupe-less Beach.

Which colors are your favorite? Have you tried the OPI Brazil Collection yet? Sound off in the comments!

Crop tops are a huge trend for spring, appearing on designer runways such as 3.1 Phillip Lim, Diane von Furstenberg, Thakoon and Alice + Olivia. This stylish piece is a must-have for any collegiette’s fashion arsenal. While you may think this is a tricky or risqué trend to pull off, Her Campus is here to show you a multitude of ways to rock this trend. Since crop tops are so versatile, every girl can find a way to sport one in a way that’s comfortable for her!

1. Wear it with a circle skirt

A circle skirt is fun and flirty—perfect for spring! A tight, long-sleeve crop top is a good contrast to the flowy skirt because circle skirts often show a bit of skin. This style also looks great with a shirt with a higher neckline because of the contrast in lengths. This Circular Skirt from H&M ($14.95) comes in a ton of fun patterns and colors that will pair wonderfully with a crop top for summer.

2. Try it with a bandage skirt

Bandage skirts are gorgeous and sexy, and they’re all the more amazing when worn with a crop top. Because both items are on the tighter side, it’s best to only show a sliver of your midriff so you’re not overexposed. Try out S.Y.L.K’s Tangerine Banded Ribbed Knit ‘Stella Rose’ Mini Skirt ($34.97) with a crop top to your next party.

3. Match it with a midi skirt

Midi skirts are another huge trend for spring 2014, as showcased by designers such as Rebecca Minkoff during Fashion Week. The shin-length skirts may seem conservative, but matching one with a fun crop top makes the look modern and young. ASOS’s Closet Full Skater Skirt ($56.46) is fun, flirty and guaranteed to look amazing with a patterned crop top.

4. Be business-ready in a blazer

Add some contemporary edge to a typical work outfit by wearing a crop top with your blazer. When you wear a crop top with high-waisted, tailored pants, you’ll be the most fashion-forward person in the office. This look is best in a more laid-back office, but it can also be worn to a nicer dinner with your parents. The Textured Open Front Blazer from Forever 21 ($29.80) is a good pick for this look because it’s a slightly oversized blazer, so it will look incredible paired with a fitted, longer crop top or even a turtleneck crop top. The baggier nature of this blazer gives the look a little more coverage.

5. Make it flirty in a maxi skirt

A fun, patterned maxi skirt is a must-have for this spring and summer. Paired with a solid-colored crop top, it’s an easy look to dress up or down. Adding statement jewelry to this look will instantly dress it up. A Lost Spring Maxi Skirt ($47.60) comes in a pretty spring and summer color that would go well with a lace or crocheted crop top.

6.  Add a Statement Necklace

Adding a statement necklace to a crop top makes the look stylish and effortless. A statement necklace instantly glams up a look; it’s an easy way to take a crop top from day to night. It can be worn with a shirt with a high neckline or even with a simple cropped tank for some more dimension. Check out Forever 21’s statement necklaces for some jewelry inspiration.

7. Wear it with high-waisted shorts

High-waisted shorts are one of the easiest looks for spring and summer. When you pair high-waisted shorts with a crop top, you’ll be both music-festival- and beach-ready. Denim shorts are a classic look, but you could also try a printed pair that’s perfect for warm weather, like these Aruba Denim Shorts from SABO SKIRT ($48). You can wear a lot of different types of crop tops with high-waisted shorts, such as a bustier top or a cropped tee.

8. Flaunt it in a peplum pant

Peplum pants are a unique fashion choice that not many collegiettes may have in their closet. However, these pants are a super-chic style that’s perfect for a summer cocktail party or a nice dinner. The peplum adds some shape to the look and breaks up the top and bottom of the outfit. Nasty Gal’s Peplum Skinny Pants ($58) are super cute for the summer. Pair them with wedges and a V-neck crop top and you’ll be ready for any summer event.

9. Prep it up with tailored shorts

This J.Crew-esque look is perfect for a summer at your favorite beach club or getaway. A crisp, white, boxy crop top paired with pastel shorts and white brogues is an effortless way to add a prep-school twist to a crop top. J.Crew’s Pleated Short in Cotton Piqué ($59.50) comes in fun summer colors and would go perfectly with a boxy crop top.

10. Under overalls

Flash some skin with a pair of overall shorts. Wearing a simple T-shirt crop top under overalls adds a feminine edge to the look. The overalls don’t necessarily have to be the traditional denim ones—you could try ones in a lot of different materials and patterns, like Urban Outfitters’s BDG Geo Denim Overall Short ($39.99). When you add ankle booties to this look, you’ll completely forget overalls were once reserved for the farm.

11. With your favorite boyfriend jeans

Looking for a way to amp up your favorite slouchy denim look? Wear it with a cropped chiffon blouse that ties in the front so you have control over how much midriff you show. It’s a comfortable, relaxed look that’s still feminine and put-together. Pick up a pair of This City Boyfriend Jeans from Nordstrom ($48) to try out this style.

12. Be chic in palazzo pants

Palazzo pants are comfortable, flowy and versatile, and they’re complemented amazingly by a crop top. Try a bustier top to take the chic pants to a new level. Arden B.’s Striped Floral Wide Leg Pants ($59) worn with a white crop top are ideal for any warm-weather festivities.

13. Add some flair with flannel

Wearing a neutral crop top under your favorite big flannel shirt will give your look a totally chill vibe. This is a cute look for those cool summer nights when your daytime crop top isn’t warm enough. By throwing on a flannel like this one from Forever 21 ($17.80) over a T-shirt crop top, you can both look good and be comfortable on those summer nights around the bonfire.

14. Throw it on over a dress

Throw a loose, cropped tank over a bodycon dress. The contrast between the loose top and the tight dress underneath can have a super slimming effect. This look is also great for those who want to wear a bodycon dress but feel uncomfortable in something so tight. A looser crop top like this one from Express ($24.90) would look amazing over a white or black bodycon dress this summer.

15. Pair it with a pencil skirt

You might think your pencil skirt should only be reserved for the office, but think again! A patterned pencil skirt that hits at the knees and above the belly button can be a super chic look when paired with a crop top. Because you’ll be covered up below the waist, you can wear a riskier crop top, perhaps with some daring cutouts. This Peach Lace Insert Skirt from Miss Selfridge ($44) comes in a fun summer color and looks youthful with the lace inserts.

16. Match from top to bottom

A crop top and a skirt in a matching pattern is a cute look for spring. Try a bustier top with a pencil skirt to find that balance between conservative and modern. Forever 21’s Romantic Rose Skirt Set ($24.80) is a perfect example of how to rock this trend.

17. Toss on a vest

Try throwing on a vest over your favorite crop top this spring. Adding a denim vest over a bustier top or tank crop top is an easy way to jazz up your outfit. To try out this look, we suggest H&M’s Denim Vest ($29.95).

18. Layer it

Crop tops are great for layering, and one of the best looks is under a sheer top. A sheer top and a crop top can be daring choices on their own, but when put together, they create a more conservative and tasteful look. Urban Outfitters’s Pins And Needles Lacey Sheer Top ($29.99) is a great example of a cute shirt that needs another layer underneath. A tight crop top under a shirt like this is the perfect way to stay a little more covered up but still show some skin.

19. Glam it up

When done right, crop tops can even be formal attire! A gorgeous metallic top or an elegant black top can be sophisticated enough for a nice date or formal event. When you accessorize with the right jewelry, you’ll be ready for a night out. This Embellished Mock Neck Crop Top from Charlotte Russe ($4.99) is gorgeous, glitzy and a beautiful way to dress up what is typically a more casual item of clothing.

How do you plan on rocking a crop top this spring and summer? Let us know in the comments below!

On April Fools' Day, it's impossible to take anything we read on the web seriously! Here's a roundup of the Internet's funniest April Fools' pranks from yesterday.

1. Gmail launches "Shelfies," a SHarable sELFIE.

2. Google+ creates Auto Awesome Photobombs with David Hasselhoff.

3. Refinery29 announced a '90s kid music festival, featuring the Spice Girls, *NSYNC, Shaggy and more.

4. Reddit's "Headdit" allows you to browse hands-free by using facial movements.

5. Chrome launches Google Translate for emoji.

6. Google offers WazeDates to find nearby singles for dates on the go.

7. Google Naps, the app that helps you find places to sleep.

8. "Tumblr Pro" upgrade adds top hats to avatars on your dashboard.

9. Lululemon invents spray-on yoga pants.

10. Honda creates ad for the first DIY car.

11. Cheetos creates "Cheeteau by Chester" perfume.

12. LinkedIn connects you to "cats you may know."

13. American Well introduces Puppy Connect, video-chatting for puppies.

14. Netflix debuts two new original movies, Rotisserie Chicken and Sizzling Bacon.

15. YouTube takes credit for every viral video and predicts trends for 2014.

16. Her Campus goes back to the '90s.

Opening Day has come and gone, meaning that it’s officially baseball season! Whether you support your hometown team from the stands or prefer to watch the action on TV, there’s no reason to wear an oversized men’s jersey or an uncomfortable, ill-fitting cap during the game to show your team spirit. This season, designers have unveiled athletic styles, cool color blocking, and caps you’ll actually want to wear to look chic, yet sporty, while you’re watching the game. Get ready to hit a style home run!

Shirts and Tees

Polyester jerseys no more! Instead of overheating inside your own synthetic Hades, try a breathable cotton baseball tee, like this one from J. Crew ($70). The feminine cut is super flattering, and we’re dying over the adorable jeweled neckline! This linen tee ($50) is also from J. Crew, features a French phrase which translates to “Love Conquers All." For a vintage look, check out the burnout tees ($49) at Urban Outfitters or this color blocked tee, also from J. Crew ($45). They’re wearable whether you’re at a game or grabbing groceries. Finally, Victoria’s Secret PINK has an entire MLB collection, with all our favorite teams represented (we love the Red Sox one—we are based in Boston, after all). We’re digging this sporty racer back tank ($30) and this cozy hoodie ($80). All of these options will carry you from the tailgate to the game and back home again. 

Hats

Baseball caps have been a staple in our wardrobes (especially to hide bad hair days) for years. Stiff men’s styles, however, often make us look more awkward than we’d like. Instead of wearing a painfully ugly hat, we prefer these chic, girly styles. 

This eyelet number from J. Crew ($39.50) is too perfect to pass up. Wear it with a low side braid while you’re running errands or to shield the sun from your eyes as you watch your favorite baseball team from third baseline. When you’re feeling a little flashier, put on a metallic cap, like this one from Collection XIIX ($25), and pair it with a neutral ensemble for maximum "bling" impact. If neon’s your thing, you can’t go wrong with this brightly hued cap from Juicy Couture ($38), which may not match your team’s colors, but is a pretty cute accessory nonetheless.

Team hats can be stylish, too. This vintage-inspired Dodgers hat ($29) from Urban Outfitters, for instance, has a lived-in feel that will leave you looking effortlessly sporty and chic. If you can’t resist sparkles, make a statement with a sequined hat from Victoria’s Secret PINK ($40), which won’t strike out!

Accessories

What is an outfit without the perfect accessories to tie it together? Game day-inspired necklaces, like this one from House of Harlow ($75) or this one from BaubleBar ($46) will never be off-base. Get it?

Baseball-style shoes will make you look über-sporty and ultra-chic. Try a pair of sneakers, like these baseball ones from adidas x Opening Ceremony ($210), which are technically a men's shoe, but we love the unisex look of them. Or, put a twist on classic with these eyelet Chuck Taylor high tops ($60).

We’re excited for baseball season and all that it entails—cookouts, hot dogs, and beer—but we won’t be caught watching the game without looking the part!

You’ve probably known someone—whether it was a roommate, a sorority sister, or even your best friend—who just wouldn’t leave that jerk of a boyfriend. He kept treating her like crap, controlled her every move, and made her feel horrible about herself. Or maybe you were that someone. Either way, it’s clear that although we all grow up dreaming of that picture-perfect relationship with a guy who loves and supports us unconditionally, that’s not always the kind of relationship that we end up in. Here are a few signs that can help you determine whether the relationship that you’re in right now is downright toxic.

1. You’re obsessed with each other

It’s natural to wonder what your boyfriend is doing when he’s away from you. It’s unnatural to text him, Facebook message him, call him, and leave him four voicemails asking him exactly what he is doing at this very moment. While the two of you should have a part of your life dedicated to each other, you should also have (much larger) parts of your lives dedicated to yourselves.

It’s not always girls who are the obsessive ones, either—sometimes guys are the ones freaking out about where you are and whom you’re with.

“I had a friend on my abroad program this past fall that was in an unhealthy long-distance relationship, and I could tell because it was interfering with her everyday life,” says Jessica* from Skidmore College. “She always declined exploring the city or going out at night because she felt guilty if she didn't go home and Skype her boyfriend. Once, after she decided to stay out for dinner with us, her boyfriend even messaged another girl on the trip (whom he'd never met) and asked for her number so he could call her if he ever needed to know where his girlfriend was! After all of that controlling and guilt-tripping, he ended up cheating on her. It really took over (and took away from) her time abroad.”

Even though in the moment this kind of behavior acts as a desperate attempt to pull the two of you closer together in the moment, it will only end up driving you further apart as you pass up opportunities to appease each other.

“While it makes sense that we are preoccupied with boyfriends/girlfriends when we are new to a relationship, it is really important to provide space for each other,” says Peggy Lorah, a licensed counselor and the Director of Penn State’s Center for Women Studies. “Obsessing usually comes from insecurity, and it is difficult to have a healthy relationship when we are insecure.”

You don’t want to resent your boyfriend for making you miss out on your study abroad, and you don’t want him to resent you for tearing him away from his friends too often, so make sure that you have a healthy amount of time apart from one another!

2. You try to change each other

It’s one thing if he’s encouraging you to get your homework done before you come to visit him so you won’t be as stressed out or if you tell him you wish he would listen to you a little more. There’s always room for improvement and compromise when it comes to your relationship. However, you shouldn’t be trying to completely change anything about your significant other, or vice versa.

“I had always been self-conscious about having a little belly. I was a dancer in high school and when I went to college and stopped, I lost the abs and gained a few pounds. My then-boyfriend would always point it out to me, and after a while it made me really insecure. Your boyfriend shouldn't make you feel that way. They should lift you up!” says Amy*, a collegiette at William Paterson University of New Jersey. “He would constantly send me workouts, tell me what to eat, and comment on how bad some things I ate were because he was a health nut and a weightlifter. At first, it was encouraging and he was supportive, then it just became problematic. I had completely changed my diet, and it really wasn't what I wanted. He shouldn't have made it a big deal, and I should have never allowed him to make me feel this way or change.”

“Healthy relationships are about accepting and respecting each other. In a healthy relationship, it's never about trying to change the other person,” Lorah says. “If we have an issue, the healthy thing is to address it openly and honestly, knowing that we have the right to share concerns, but that we don't have the right to expect someone else to change because we want them to.”

Asking your significant other to change their style, body, haircut, or personality is not okay. Healthy relationships mean that you both embrace each other’s individuality! He should love you for the awesome girl that you are, not the girl he wants to mold you to become.

3. You get jealous and possessive

It’s natural to feel a little twinge of jealousy when your boyfriend starts spending a lot of time outside of class working on a project with his gorgeous lab partner, but the important thing is that you trust him enough to know that he would never do anything that could potentially ruin your relationship.  You shouldn’t become so worried about his possible infidelity that your possessiveness is what actually ends up ruining the relationship! The reverse is also true; he shouldn’t be so jealous of your guy friends that it ends up making you feel suffocated.

“I dated a guy for a few years in high school, and he literally cut off my connections with every single guy friend I had prior to dating him,” says Theresa* from Penn State. “He actually even went through my Facebook once and deleted all of the ones that he wasn’t friends with. I was only allowed to hang out with him, and with his guy friends when he was there. Somehow I was so head over heels for him that I didn’t even see how unhealthy it was for him to control me like that just because he was jealous and insecure.”

Lorah says that jealousy and possessiveness “are both disrespectful of the other person at their core. They come from our own issues, again, of insecurity. We don't own other people, and jealousy says so much more about us than it does about what the other person is doing or not doing.”

Behavior like this is unacceptable and goes back to the fact that you should both have your own lives outside of your relationship together. You should be okay with him having female friends, and he should be okay with you having male friends, so long as you trust each other!

4. You lie to each other

This is definitely where trust comes in. Whether your boyfriend tells a little white lie about what he did last night, or completely neglects to tell you that one of his super attractive female friends from high school happens to be staying in his dorm for the weekend, you’re within your rights to get upset. No matter what the magnitude of the lie may be, it pokes holes in the foundation of your relationship together, and it makes you question everything that he tells you from that point forward.

If you feel like you have to lie to him to make him happy, that’s also a bad sign. This includes lies about your personality, about your likes and dislikes, or about the things that you do. Whether you’re afraid that these things will simply make him dislike you, or you fear that they’ll make him angry at you, you still shouldn’t ever lie to him. You should feel comfortable voicing your thoughts and feelings in your relationship.

“In an honest relationship, there isn't any need for even the little fibs,” Lorah says. “[Anything] can be a topic of discussion without your feeling that you need to lie. Healthy relationships are built on honesty.”

5. He pressures or abuses you

It doesn’t matter what he’s trying to pressure you to do, if he’s trying to get you to do anything that you’re strongly opposed to or makes you uncomfortable, then he’s in the wrong. This is particularly true if he’s trying to pressure you into having sex. If you aren’t into it, then the two of you shouldn’t be doing it. Period. That’s your choice.

If he threatens to force you to do things you don’t want to, that’s going a step beyond pressuring, and is absolutely toxic. This includes emotional abuse like calling you names, criticizing you, or saying degrading comments. Nobody should ever feel hurt or threatened in a healthy relationship, so if you’re feeling that way, you should get out now.

No matter how much you upset him, no matter how intensely the two of you may be fighting about something, there is no reason for him to intentionally cause you physical harm. Physical abuse is never okay.  This could be punching, shoving, slapping, restraining, or any other acts of physical force. If he lays a hand on you, it’s time to get out of this relationship.

Even more frightening is the concept of sexual abuse within a relationship. If you’re not interested in pursuing a sexual relationship with someone, that should be the end of it, but that’s certainly not always the case. Not only should you promptly leave someone if they abuse you this way, but you should report the crime to the police.

“I was sexually assaulted by my boyfriend and he convinced me to stay with him and I did for another 2 years,” says Laura*, a collegiette from James Madison University. “I realized after the fact that it was wrong, but I never reported it. My biggest advice for anyone in this situation is to report it. It's not worth anything they promise you, and it's never your fault.”

Eleanor* from James Madison University says that she didn’t see it coming. “I never thought it would happen to me, or by him! Although, looking back it makes sense,” she says. “He constantly tore me down and made me think my best wasn't good enough. He made me believe that I truly wasn't worth anything I had worked so hard for in anything. It was incredibly hard to look past these things when we broke up but I don't believe that holding onto the negative things is healthy for me and I've learned to let go and remember that I am living life in the best way I know how.”

“It's important to seek support when we find ourselves in unhealthy relationships,” said Lorah. “That way we can sort out what works for us and what we might need to do. If this is happening to a friend, it's important to offer our support and caring.”

If any of these warning signs resonate with the current relationship that you’re in, it’s time to sit down and have a conversation with your significant other about how to mend the situation. Or, if that idea sounds too terrifying, then it’s probably time to end the relationship. If you know a friend whose current relationship exhibits any of these indicators of a toxic relationship, try to talk to them so that they don’t end up more hurt than they need to be by the situation.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

Any good friend knows that you never let a girl go to the bathroom alone.

Because who wants to be stuck looking for the bathroom by herself like a lost puppy?

And you don’t want to be left out, so when one of your friends asks for a bathroom buddy, you’re like:

But once one girl goes, then all the other girls want to go, too.

Which is why you always see girls in public going on "bathroom safaris," like:

It's a universal phenomenon that leaves all the guys in the group like:

But all the girls dismiss this common male confusion, slide their purse straps over their shoulders and venture off, thinking:

Once you and your girlfriends find the bathroom, you burst through the doors like you’re entering a new, mini social gathering, which is basically what it is.

The one friend who actually needs to use the bathroom is like...

...while everyone else crowds around the mirror to stare at themselves for a good five minutes.

To everyone else in the bathroom, you and your girlfriends look so vain...

...but it’s not your fault that you had a good hair day and Sephora had a sale on lip gloss!

Then there’s always one friend who has to evaluate the bathroom wall color, sink style and general atmosphere like she’s in an episode of House Hunters.

While everyone primps, it’s a given that you have to catch up on your respective lives…

…and gossip specifically about the guys whom you just left when you went to the bathroom.

Though it’s not that secretive, because all of you talk loudly through the bathroom stalls like you rented the place (especially when a friend needs someone to pass her some toilet paper).

And if anyone is on her period, now is the perfect time and place to complain (because men will never understand what you’re going through).

Now that you’ve spent three times as long as any guy in the bathroom, you round up your girls so you can leave in your original tight-knit huddle.

Because when you go to public bathrooms, you never leave a girl behind!

When you finally rejoin the guys, they act all dramatic about your extended absence, like:

To which you’re just like:

On Monday, the Harvard Crimson published an anonymous, first person account of a sexual assault and its aftermath.

The letter, titled "Dear Harvard: You Win," details a student's sexual assault by a trusted friend and her struggle to get support from the university.

“I was intoxicated, I was in pain, I was trapped between him and the wall, and I was scared to death that he would continue to ignore what I said," the alleged victim writes. "I stopped everything and turned my back to him, praying he would leave me alone. He started getting impatient. ‘Are you only going to make me hard, or are you going to make me come?’ he said in a demanding tone.

It did not sound like a question. I obeyed."

The student reported the assault to her House staff, but she was told that the Administrative Board was unlikely to issue a charge against her attacker, due to Harvard's policy on sexual conduct. The administration said that the student's situation did not match the school's narrow definition of sexual assault, and therefore could not (and would not) investigate. 

"The policy, published in the spring of 1993, defines “indecent assault and battery” to be anything involving “unwanted touching or fondling of a sexual nature that is accompanied by physical force or threat of bodily injury.” It does not provide any definition of consent beyond the brief mention, in its definition of rape, that a victim cannot consent if he or she is unable to express unwillingness due to alcohol or drugs, among other factors."

Although the victim and her attacker lived in the same House, the school refused to move the assailant to a different residence on campus. Instead, they repeatedly told the student that she should "feel free" to move to another House herself. She was also told that the assailant "couldn't be punished because he didn't know what he was doing" and that her drinking contributed to the assault. 

After nine months of living with her attacker, the student wrote that she was "exhausted" from fighting for herself and decided to move out of her House in order to save her life.

"I’m exhausted from sending emails to my resident dean, to my House Master, to my Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment tutors, to counselors from the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, to my attorney. I’m exhausted from asking for extensions because of “personal issues.” I’m exhausted from avoiding the laundry room, the House library and the mailroom because I’m scared of who I will run into."

In the letter, the student asks the school to reexamine the 20-year-old policies on sexual assault and give the administration extensive training and guidelines for handling similar situations in the future. 

"If my resident dean refuses to question the current policy we have in place, then I will. Dear Harvard: You might have won, but I still have a voice. And I plan on using it as much as I can to make things change."

Mustering up the courage to ask someone out on a date can be hard, but what can be even harder is deciding what to do on the date! The clichéd “dinner-and-a-movie” combo was once cute, but sitting in silence while staring at a glowing screen for two hours isn’t always the most appealing option. However, if you bring up any of these exciting plans, your date is sure to say “yes”! Here are some suggestions for exciting dates that are anything but boring.

1. Rock out at a local concert

Holding hours of conversation with a new guy can be nerve-wracking, but if you go to a concert, the responsibility is lifted off your shoulders. Depending on the type of concert, you can either grab a big blanket and relax on a field or join the crowd and sing along to the music. Either way, it’s a laid-back setting to get to know each other—specifically, your date’s musical interests!

2. Be adventurous and go indoor rock climbing

Indoor rock climbing is an inexpensive and active way to spend time with your significant other. The best part is you can do this date in any weather since it’s an indoor activity! You can help each other get to the top of the wall by directing which rocks to reach for.

3. Show off your sporty side and cheer at a game

Kaitlyn Elgart, a freshman at the University of Alabama, says a sporting event is perfect for an entertaining but casual date.  “I had a lot of fun because it's not a situation where you can't talk at all, like a movie, but it doesn't force awkward conversation for the entirety of the date, like a dinner,” she says. “It's always fun to see when guys get really into their sports, and I'm a sports fan also, so I think [my date] was impressed with a girl that wasn't bored at a sports event.”

4. Play a round of mini golf

One way to get close to your date is to play a round of mini golf. If you’re a rookie, have your date help you putt the ball and aim to get a hole in one! Julie Konners, a freshman at Indiana University, says when she went mini-golfing with her boyfriend, “it was a fun way to bring out both of our competitive sides, but it was still really personable since we played just the two of us. I wasn’t too good at it, but I still had fun.”  Let’s just hope your date doesn’t act like Tiger Woods!

5. Be your own chef and make dinner together

Making your own dinner is a less expensive dining option, and it allows you to show off your culinary skills! Check out these recipes for two and get cooking!

6. Get flirty playing pool

Channel your inner Serena van der Woodsen by finding yourself a Dan Humphrey to teach you how to play pool. Nothing says “cute first date” like letting him show you the ropes of the game. Pool is also a great way to add a little friendly and flirtatious competition!

7.  Show off your driving skills with go-karting

Continuing with the theme of competition, nothing gets your heart racing like some good, old-fashioned go-karting! Buckle your seatbelt and bust the stereotype that women can’t drive. See which one of you can get around the track faster—the one who’s slower has to buy dinner!

What’s the most unique date you’ve ever been on? Let us know in the comments below!

While your friends might care about the mouth-watering cheesecake dessert you are about to devour or the beautiful bouquet roses that your boyfriend just sent you, the professional world certainly does not. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have long been accepted as not only ways to keep in touch with friends and family, but also as professional networking tools. With more and more companies utilizing newly emerging mediums like Instagram to interact with their customers, this app might just be the newest way to land your Insta-career.

Branding yourself and networking are the two most efficient ways in which Instagram can help you navigate your career path. While it should not be the only way you choose to internship hunt, there are simple, effective ways that you can customize your account to grab the attention of potential employers and supplement your other efforts. Follow these networking and branding tips from Eddy Cruz, the Assistant Director of Alumni Programs at the University of Miami Toppel Career Center, for some keys to Insta-success in the professional world:

Following

Eddy recommends that students research a company that they are interested in, possibly through other social media outlets such as Twitter. That way, you can find out what the company values and express your interest in it through your own Instagram account.

“For example, if you are interested in fashion, post pictures that show this, like your favorite designers on the runway, certain patterns, you working in a studio, whatever,” Eddy said. “Show that you are immersed in the industry. Show that you really live this and show your creativity, especially if you are in a creative field.”

Meaghan O’Connor, a collegiette from the University of Michigan and volunteer for She’s The First, begins by following specific, powerful people from a company and then branching out from there.

“Tammy Tibbetts, the founder of our own organization, goes to a lot of events and tags a lot of people in her Instagram pictures,” Meaghan said, “so the most direct benefit for me is seeing people she has tagged, and then I follow and network with them.”

You can start by Googling the company to learn who the most influential people are in that business. Then find them on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn where you can connect with them! Keep in mind, however, that there is a chance that these people will follow you back, so make sure that your account reflects what you want potential employers to know about you!

“Make sure that what you are using it for makes sense. Think about that your profile reflects who you are as a person and what you want to portray to people,” Meaghan said. “I think before I post. I look at some people’s profiles and think, ‘I hope mine doesn’t look like that!’”

Interested in fashion design? Upload your favorite clothing pics! Interested in having a job someday? Ditch the pics of your awesome keg stand from last Friday night!

Tagging

If you want to “tag” a company in your post to get their attention directly, make sure that what you’re posting is relevant to them!

“I believe what an individual should be showcasing in their Instagram, if they are using it for job searching, is their knowledge and interest in the industry, specific company, and their services/products,” Eddy said. “This way they illustrate to the organization that they may be a good fit and they are worth engaging within these platforms and possibly in-person in the future.”

There’s nothing wrong with a little flattery when it comes to job hunting, either! If you’re satisfied with a company’s product, Instagram a picture of yourself while using it, then make a caption praising the company’s service and tag them at the end so they can see your work. Remember to do this sparingly, though! You don’t want to annoy the person in charge of social media. Besides, you want to make everything look natural—there’s a thin line between appreciation and obsession.

Hashtags

One of the most effective ways to get a company to stumble upon your account is by using hashtags. You can mimic the hashtags a company is already using, Eddy said, but do so with caution! He recommends using only a few hashtags at a time, otherwise they can look unprofessional.

“The one thing I’ve noticed is that when people use too many hashtags… it turns out distracting and annoying,” Eddy said. “Keep the hashtags to a minimum. Three, tops.”

Eddy also suggests researching a company to see what type of skills they look for in employees, then making sure to hashtag those skills whenever you tag the company in a post. Companies use hashtags to view the social conversation about their image, so make sure that you have something positive and worthwhile to say in your post!

Commenting

Once you’ve found the right people to follow and have uploaded and tagged the appropriate content, the next step is to interact! If you want to comment on a company’s photo, be sure to say something relevant that corresponds with their values. Demonstrate your knowledge and admiration for their work, and always remember to tag them in the comment to ensure that they will see it.

A great strategy is to ask a question in your comment. You can direct the question either at the company itself, or at its consumers to strike up a conversation among them.

Asking the company a question is a good way to get in touch with employees at the company, which could help you take the communication to another a platform where you can begin to establish a relationship. On the other hand, if you decide to start a conversation among the consumers, you may earn respect and appreciation from the company by demonstrating leadership skills that every employer desires in an intern.

“Think of this as another way to showcase your knowledge and interest in the industry,” Eddy said. “This way you illustrate to the organization that you may be a good fit, and you’re worth engaging within these platforms and possibly in person in the future.”

Taking it to the next level

“After they have had the ability to engage with someone through social media, then they will sooner or later want to meet with the individual, as appropriate, either over the phone, email, or in person for coffee,” Eddy said. “In the initial message through e-mail that you may have found through LinkedIn or over the phone the individual will want to provide a specific purpose for their correspondence and request for time to meet.”

When Meaghan sees that professionals ‘like’ a photo of hers, she usually reaches out to them and fills them in on what She’s The First is currently involved in. “I’ve learned that Instagram is a great way to get attention, develop relationships, and initiate connections in a non-invasive way,” Meaghan says.

Show your stuff

Instagram lends itself well to creative industries, so Eddy recommends that students take advantage of this. Show off your style!

“Anything with the media, communications, photography or fashion will benefit from Instagram,” Meaghan says. “What I love most about Instagram is it is much more visual than any other social media platform, so careers that require you to tell a visual story should definitely utilize Instagram.”

Showing off doesn’t have to be limited to your work! Meaghan enjoys using it to show that she has met important people in her desired industry, and encourages students to not hesitate to upload pictures of their own. Show that you have met certain people by uploading pictures with them, and then that can establish mutual friendship and connections with other people. Think of it as “visual networking.”

Overall, you want to use your Instagram account to show potential employers the kind of intern or employee that you would be for them in a manner much more creative and visual than your Twitter or Facebook. “Share interests, passions and ideas,” Eddy said. “Enhance what they see and intrigue them.”

You’ve gotten accepted to college, and now you have to decide on the perfect school.  But before you put down your deposit, there are many factors you should consider when you deciding if a school is the one for you. You might fall in love with the first college you look at, but remember that you have to look for the best fit for you. If you want to make sure you’re ending up at the right school, these five signs a school is right for you will help you make your decision!

1. You feel like you fit in with the student body

One of the most important things when choosing a college is if you’ll fit in with the other students. You’ll find your niche no matter where you go, but some schools will be better fits for you than others.  If you discover that a majority of the students have similar values and interests as you, it may make your transition easier. 

Georgiana Honrath, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University, decided to choose her school because of the people. “Something I noticed when I first met people on campus was that they were really welcoming, and I knew that was the type of school I wanted to go to,” she says.

One way to gain insight into student life is to go to information sessions hosted by the school during accepted students days.  You can find out about these panels through the admissions office.  They usually feature a diverse group of students who are involved all over campus, so you’ll be able to see all the different interests people have there.  If you feel like you could see yourself fitting in with the rest of the students, the school might be right for you!

2. It has extracurriculars you’re interested in

If you were super involved in high school and are looking for similar extracurricular activities to get involved with in college, that’s definitely something to look into when choosing your dream school!  If you’re hoping to get involved in a certain club or sport and it isn’t offered at a particular university, it’s better to find that out sooner rather than later.

Ally Quilty, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University, chose her school because she was able to join a business fraternity there.  “When I went to visit, I met a girl who was in the business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, and loved it,” she says. “No other schools I looked at had an organization like that, so I knew that Saint Joe’s was the school for me.”

Extracurriculars are a big part of social life on campus, so finding your niche is important for making friends. Having an idea of what you may or may not want to get involved in is a good way to prepare for your upcoming visit.

3. You’ll be able to succeed academically

Another sign that a school is right for you is that you think the school can suit you academically. After all, you want to be challenged in college, but you don’t want to feel like you’re in way over your head! You need to make sure you’re going to succeed in the environment you’re living and learning in.

Naja Griffin, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University, chose Saint Joseph’s because she liked the class sizes. “When I was looking for a school, it was important to me that the class sizes were small,” she says. “I went to a small high school where we had 25 to 30 kids in each class, so I wanted to keep it about the same when I got to college to transition easier.”

4. You can have fun in the surrounding environment

Your studies are definitely important in college, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little fun, too!  If the town or city your school is located in is somewhere you could see yourself hanging out in, whether you hit up a nearby hiking trail or a gigantic art gallery in the city, that’s another sign that a school may be right for you!  You’ll spend most of your time on campus, but the surrounding area will influence your experience as well.

5. It will guide you toward your dream career

If you love to dream big, you’re going to need a school to help you accomplish that dream.  One sign that a school is right for you is that they have the particular program you’re looking for or the major you want.  A school that gives you all the best opportunities is the one that’s right for you in the long run. 

Courtney Moore, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University, chose her school because she knew she would be able to participate in a co-op program.  “I knew that a co-op program was something I was looking for in a college,” she says.

You may be just about to start college, but don’t forget to consider what will happen after those four years! Make sure the school has resources to help you land your dream job. Check out the school’s career center on your visit and see what opportunities it offers.

If you’re seeing these five signs on your next campus visit, that school may just be “the one!” Congrats on being that much closer to enjoying the best four years of your life.

Sometimes we’ll just get an intense craving for our favorite treats out of nowhere. You know the feeling—all of a sudden you want potato chips, and you can think of literally nothing unless until you get your hands on them.  Luckily, there are healthy ways to beat those cravings! Whenever you’re dreaming of junk food, try swapping out those not-so-healthy snacks with these alternatives.

1. Chocolate

Whoever said diamonds were a girl’s best friend must have momentarily forgot about chocolate. Whether you’re on your period or you just finished dinner and you need something sweet, chocolate cravings can be intense and seemingly impossible to ignore.

Unfortunately, the smooth richness of chocolate packs in a lot of sugar and saturated fat: the typical milk chocolate bar has 235 calories, 13 grams of fat (20 percent of your daily value), 8 grams of saturated fat (40 percent of your daily value) and 23 grams of sugar. With stats like that, a few squares can start to add up—especially when having a square or two turns into polishing off the whole bar (hey, we’ve all been there).

Alternative: Homemade hot cocoa

Instead of reaching for the nearest chocolate bar or fudge brownie, satisfy your craving for chocolate with a mug of homemade hot cocoa. It’ll take just two minutes to make, and better yet, it only has 40 calories, 3 grams of fat, and zero grams of sugar (before adding the whipped cream).

Pour a cup of unsweetened almond milk into a mug and stir in one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and one packet of no-calorie sweetener, like Splenda or stevia. Pop it in the microwave for about two minutes, until it’s hot. Top with one to two squirts of whipped cream (or none at all!) and enjoy!

2. Pizza

It’s no secret that college students love pizza. There are probably a ton of pizza shops in your college town, and they’re all waiting for you to call them in the wee hours of the night while you’re up late studying for exams. But just one slice of a 12-inch cheese pizza contains about 10 grams of fat, 462 milligrams of sodium and 26 grams of carbs.

Alternative: Make-your-own pizza

It’s all too easy to grab a slice when you’re walking around campus or get a box delivered right to your door, but with a few ingredient swaps, you can actually make your own healthy pizza without much more effort. Elina Tarkazikis, a senior at Ramapo College, says when she and her roommates crave pizza, they usually substitute the heavy pizza dough with a tortilla. “We take a carb-smart wheat tortilla and put some light sauce on half of it and sprinkle on 2 percent shredded cheese over the sauce, then fold it up,” she says. “You can cook it on the skillet or in the oven.” You can also add veggies to your pizza to fill you up and add more nutrients.

You could also use a whole-wheat pita pocket or a Portobello mushroom cap as your pizza base. Or, check out this awesome recipe that Elina and her friends have tried for a cauliflower pizza base. 

3. Pasta

College students are notorious for eating ramen and Easy Mac, and who could blame us? Pasta is cheap, easy to make and undeniably delicious. But whether it’s a giant bowl of gourmet spaghetti and meatballs from your favorite Italian restaurant near campus or a microwavable Cup Noodles that you’re craving, pasta isn’t the healthiest choice out there. It’s a refined carbohydrate, which means it packs in calories but not many other valuable nutrients, so it’s not doing you too many favors in the health department.

Alternative: Spaghetti squash

Regular pasta is stripped of its vitamins, nutrients and fiber in the refining process. Luckily, there’s a way to get noodles that have all the good stuff. Spaghetti squash is a type of squash that, when cooked, gives way to strands that look just like spaghetti. Squash is high in vitamins and fiber and contains nowhere near the amount of calories as regular pasta, as one cup of cooked spaghetti has about 220 calories while one serving of spaghetti squash strands has only about 30 calories. The other good news? You can still top it with your favorite pasta sauce! Read this Collegiette Eats post on how to cook spaghetti squash so the next time a pasta craving strikes, you’ll know just what to make.

4. Fruit-flavored yogurt

If you’re guilty of skipping a nutritious breakfast when you’re in a hurry, you may reach for pseudo-healthy, on-the-go breakfast foods such as fruity yogurt. However, fruit-flavored yogurt rarely contains actual fresh fruit. That “fruit” at the bottom is actually doused in thick syrups and preservatives and usually contains more sugar than it does protein and nutrients.

Alternative: Greek yogurt with fresh fruit

Switching to Greek yogurt will give you twice the amount of protein per serving than regular yogurt. One serving of Greek yogurt can contain anywhere between 15-20 grams of protein compared to the 9 grams that you would get from flavored yogurt. Adding your own fresh fruit to the yogurt will help you to avoid eating all the sugar that flavored yogurt contains.

Phyu-Sin, a junior at Mount Holyoke College, recently became a vegetarian and says yogurt is her power breakfast. “Plain Greek yogurt with fruit and a few spoons of ground flaxseeds give the yogurt a sweet and tangy flavor and it helps me from getting too hungry throughout the day,” she says.

5. Potato Chips

As delicious and convenient as they are to have on hand, it’s no secret that potato chips are an unhealthy snack. One serving of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips (15 chips) contains 160 calories, but you don’t get much for your calories. The average bag of potato chips is also packed with a ton of sodium—hence why it’s hard to just stop at one chip—and unhealthy saturated fat, but the chips are totally devoid of any healthy nutrients. 

Alternative: Kale chips

Kale chips are an easy snack that can either be store-bought or homemade. Kale is a very nutrient-dense vegetable—one chopped cup delivers more than 100 percent of your recommended daily value of Vitamin A and Vitamin C for only 33 calories.

To make kale chips, wash and dry the kale leaves and tear them into bite-sized pieces. Drizzle them with olive oil and season with a little bit of salt and pepper and any additional seasonings you desire. Bake on a baking sheet in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the edges are brown. Keep your eye on them in the last few minutes, because they can burn fast!

6. Candy

Our parents and elementary school teachers warned us how unhealthy candy can be, and sadly, they were right. From gummies and sour straws to peanut butter cups and caramel creams, there is no shortage of candy options out there, and they tend to be in the most tempting places, like right at the checkout line. Fun-sized candy may sound harmless, but you’re getting nothing but sugar and empty calories out of it.

Alternative: Frozen fruit

Fruit, or “nature’s candy,” can remedy a sweet tooth thanks to its natural sugars. While fresh fruit works too, frozen fruit will give you more of a dessert-y satisfaction.

“My mum used to put grapes in the freezer and say that they were sweets,” says Florence, a junior at Exeter University. “It works, and it’s an absolutely delicious treat!” In addition to grapes, try frozen mango chunks or frozen berries (like strawberries or blueberries) for a similar candy-like treat. 

Another great frozen-fruit gem? Bananas! Blending a frozen banana is a healthy but still super-yummy alternative to ice cream. Freeze a whole banana and blend it to satisfy an ice-cream craving, or freeze slices of bananas to beat your candy cravings. 

As college students, we don’t always pay too much attention to what we put in our bodies, which makes it difficult to fight cravings. However, if you pay closer attention to the nutritional value of what you eat, you can fuel your body the right way and feel your best. Eating well is easier said than done, but swapping out your not-so-healthy favorites with a few healthier alternatives will definitely pay off in the end. 

Sick of eating cereal and ramen for lunch and dinner? Want to spend less money eating out and finally start cooking for yourself? Put down that frozen pizza, because HC’s Health Editor, Sammie Levin, is here to share her daily eats so you can get ideas for healthy, satisfying meals that are easy enough for any time-strapped collegiette to make. After you read Collegiette Eats, your taste buds, wallet and waistline will thank you. 

Breakfast

Yesterday morning, I finally perfected banana "nice" cream. Who says you can't have ice cream for breakfast - especially if it's just made from bananas? It's a childhood dream come true! 

After viewing a bunch of luscious instagrams of banana ice cream, I realized that I could get a creamier consistency if I blended the frozen banana for longer and in a batch made from more than just one banana. So, I blended together two frozen bananas for about 45 seconds to a minute, stopping to scrape down the sides and stir as needed. I also added a tablespoon of PB2 (powdered peanut butter) and a few sprinkles of cinnamon to the mix. When it was done, I scooped it into a plastic wine glass, because what else is a collegiette supposed to do when all the dishes are dirty? I topped it with a little more cinnamon, and after the first few glorious bites, I ended up adding a spoonful of peanut butter as well. 

Look at how thick and creamy it looks! If you didn't know better, you might even mistake it for real fro-yo or ice cream. The taste will fool you, too. The creaminess reminded me a little bit of Edy's Slow Churned ice cream, which is what my parents always buy at home. I was amazed by how delicious of a breakfast this was - the cinnamon-and-peanut-butter combo was spot-on. I didn't even miss my oatmeal. 

Lunch

I knew I was going to have a super-rushed lunch break yesterday because I had back-to-back group meetings, so on Tuesday night I prepared an overnight oat parfait that I could grab and take on the go for yesterday's lunch. Like the last time I made this, the jar was filled with layers of overnight oats, Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries and strawberry chia seed jam. I also brought a Tupperware container of mixed berries, orange segments and grapefruit segments to enjoy on the side. 

Between ice cream for breakfast and this for lunch, it was like I was eating dessert all day. But really, I was filling up on protein (peanut butter and Greek yogurt), healthy fats (peanut butter and chia seeds), fiber (oats and fruit) and vitamins and antioxidants (more fruit). That's the beauty of healthy sweets! 

Dinner

For dinner, I made Swiss chard wraps. I've seen Swiss chard leaves used as a roll-up for all kinds of fillings, so I decided to experiment with two of my own creations, which were both tropical-inspired. One wrap was filled with pineapple salsa from Whole Foods, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes and a fried egg. I've seen fried egg mixed with tropical coleslaw at a Cuban-inspired restaurant in Ann Arbor (Frita Batidos), so I decided to try it. My yolk didn't turn out as runny as I would have liked, but it was still a tasty combo. I liked the other wrap a little more though, which was filled with pineapple salsa, mashed avocado, mango slices and grilled shrimp. Read about how I make grilled shrimp here - it's so easy. Instead of the basil and garlic seasoning that I used in that post, I used fresh cilantro and a few squirts of lime juice to go with the tropical vibe. The shrimp tasted so fresh and juicy, and it mixed so well with the mango and avocado. On one of the warmest days of this dreadful, never-ending winter, I really felt like I was living it up in paradise while eating these wraps. 

Since they are large and sturdy, Swiss chard leaves make for a perfect healthy alternative to bread and tortillas. Just layer your ingredients in the middle and then wrap it up like a burrito or a sushi roll. Experiment with whatever fillings you like. I've seen standard turkey and hummus wraps and more wild ones like banana and peanut butter and vegan taco versions. You have the freedom to go crazy - just make sure to share your creation in a comment below! 

Tuesday night we pranked our readers for April Fools’ Day, sending out a fake opportunity to intern for Beyoncé in our STUDY BREAK e-mail. The prank totally worked, and more than 3,000 of you fell for it! In case you haven’t subscribed to our STUDY BREAK emails yet (you can do so here!) or somehow missed our genius prank, here’s what the email said:

Position: Summer Public Relations Intern
Location: New York City, New York
Internship Description:
Interns will be working to organize and maintain the official Beyoncé archive, a digital-storage facility that contains virtually every existing photograph of her, every video of every show she's ever performed, every diary entry she's ever recorded and thousands of hours of private footage.

This internship is unpaid, but interns will receive school credit and unlimited Pepsi products during their internship. Interns will also have the opportunity to take three (3) selfies with Beyoncé over the course of the internship.

Please note that interns will be subject to a strict non-disclosure agreement in connection with their interactions with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Blue Ivy and Solange.

Internship Responsibilities:

• Capturing onsite footage to add to Beyoncé’s archive
• Organizing and maintaining the archive
• Finding unflattering Beyoncé photos on the Internet and requesting their removal
• Keeping track of emoji music videos and videos of particularly talented toddlers dancing to Beyoncé songs to add to the archive
• Helping to compile Blue Ivy’s official baby book
• Compiling list of prominent female singers’ birthdays so Beyoncé can wish them a happy birthday on her Facebook page
• Coming up with memorable and powerful words to be printed on Beyoncé apparel
• Helping promote new Beyoncé-branded #SURFBOARTs and #BOOGIEBOARTs for her upcoming beach accessories line
• Assisting with a large-scale, top-secret project

Applicant Requirements:

• Applicants must be current college students who can receive school credit
• Prior internship experience in public relations encouraged but not required
• Strong writing, editing and communication skills
• Excellent organization skills
• Detail-oriented
• Proficient in Microsoft applications, particularly Excel
• Willing to travel to various undisclosed locations
• Ability to keep large-scale projects secret
• Proficient in Facebook, Twitter, Hootsuite and creating Instagram videos
• Crazy in love with all things Queen Bey

How to Apply:
Applicants are required to submit a resume, a cover letter and any other supplementary materials they feel will prove they would make a #flawless intern, such as sample press releases or video footage of themselves performing the “Single Ladies” dance. Click here to download the official application packet!

Good luck, collegiettes!

Pretty good, right? Apparently you guys thought so - here are some of the best twitter responses to our Bey prank!

I'm so hurt!!! oh why would @HerCampus do this to us!! #BestAprilFoolsEver#IMustAdmit#BeyonceInternshipScampic.twitter.com/9GuwHUcUjw

— Christen Roberts (@C0SM0_girl) April 2, 2014

Why I LOVE working for @HerCampus@HerCampusLancspic.twitter.com/ZAPTNbOB09

— Rachel McHugh (@racheljanemc) April 1, 2014

Crying because @HerCampus got me with their April Fool's joke. I really wanted to intern for Beyonce :(

— Jamie Kravitz (@JamieKravitz) April 2, 2014

a PR summer internship in New York to work for @Beyonce, um WHAT?!

— Deanna Borocz (@deannab3) April 2, 2014

@HerCampus OMG YOU TOTALLY TRICKED ME. I really wanted to intern for Queen Bey :( #aprilfools

— pa (@puhcheeyah) April 2, 2014

Glad to know I'll never experience happiness @HerCampuspic.twitter.com/BIn9KnX4Rm

— Carolyn (@carolynmullen) April 2, 2014

Gotcha! Although this would be maybe the greatest opportunity ever if it was real. 

Want to squeeze in a daily workout without having to leave the comfort of your dorm room? Eliza Shirazi, a recent graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has your answer! She’s developed a fitness brand, Kick It by Eliza, which encompasses her signature group fitness classes with health and wellness coaching. Eliza made some special dorm-room workout videos for Her Campus so you can get a great workout without even leaving your room. Here are just a few Kick It workouts that will get you fit—no gym required!

1. Abs

Get your core fired up with this quick, do-anywhere ab routine.

2. Glutes and Quads

Your booty will thank you after these bum-shaping exercises.

3. Back and Arms

Lengthen your body and relax your mind with this workout.

4. Arms

Use this sculpting arm workout to power you through your day.

5. Cardio and Strength

Break into a sweat with this heart-pumping cardio routine.

For more fun and easy workout routines, be sure to check out more Her Campus Bootcamp videos on YouTube!

As your Thursday night comes to a close, you can’t help but wonder why you either a) didn’t meet anyone new at a frat-house filled with people, b) didn’t really have any great conversations with anyone, or c) didn’t go home with a guy’s number.  For the most highly-anticipated night of the week, you can’t help but feel that it was kind of a bust because all you really did was get unpleasantly drunk while standing in a circle with your 5 best girlfriends chit-chatting about how the punch is surprisingly delicious.  Perhaps there’s a reason that some nights come and go without a conversation with new (or particularly hot) people/men.

As nice and approachable as collegiettes can be, we can sometimes revert to behaviors that say, “Don’t talk to me, I’m not interested,” instead of “I think you’re cute and want to talk to you.”  Guys will turn the other way if they feel that you’re unapproachable or just plain b*tchy.  Here are some signs you might be unintentionally giving off that keep people away for fear that you might, like, rip their heads off if they even think about speaking to you…
 
Your face is constantly buried in your phone.

As far as anyone around you is concerned, you’re more preoccupied with whoever it is you’re texting than with whoever is at the party.  Whatever the reason (you’re feeling awkward and need to look like you have other friends; you’re genuinely waiting for someone to text you back; you’re involved in a really intense game of Words with Friends…), it becomes clear to the people you’re with that you’re just not interested in engaging with them.  If that’s not the case, then put your phone away.  (If that is the case, however, you might as well leave.)  Your phone screen isn’t going to illuminate an image of a cute guy – rather, he’s standing across the room wondering if you’re going to accept or reject his attempt to have a conversation with you.  The same goes for those long walks across campus.  By gluing your eyes to your phone, you’re avoiding contact with everyone – guy, girl, friend, non-friend – who passes you.  Give your thumbs a rest while you’re out to avoid seeming totally uninterested in the people you’re with.
 
Your arms are always crossed.
That stance, that glare – both scream, “Don’t mess with me.”  Standing around with your arms crossed makes you seem particularly unhappy and completely unapproachable.  The effect is magnified about 10 times if you’re wearing sunglasses.  This closed-off posture is simply uninviting, and it makes you seem really intimidating to guys and girls alike.  Release your arms from this restrictive position and let them hang by your sides.  Instead of slumping into your hips, stand straight up – this gives off an air of confidence as opposed to arrogance.  Just relax, and be open to conversation.
 
You abuse sarcasm while texting.
We know all too well that sarcasm simply doesn’t translate via text message.  Jokes get lost in translation and playful remarks become downright mean when they’re expressed in animated speech bubbles.  Scale back on the sarcasm if you’re texting a guy you don’t know too well.  Chances are he’ll get confused (and maybe even offended) by your supposed-to-be-funny “insults.”  Reserve these little digs for in-person use only, or until he gets to know your humor a little better.  He’ll be able to appreciate your sarcasm if he knows to expect it.  Anything too strong or ambiguous sent via text can be misinterpreted – something that was sent in a light-hearted manner can be received as blatantly mean.
 
Your 263 Facebook profile pictures are exclusively of your face.
“So, you think you’re really pretty?” As much as we just hate her, Regina George resonates with us, and many of her lines have shamelessly made their way into our day-to-day interactions with girlfriends and guy friends (whether they can identify these references or not) alike.  Ironically, self-centered photographs are probably what would dominate Regina’s Facebook page, but this shouldn’t be true for nice-girl collegiettes.  To avoid coming off as conceited, mix up your Profile Pictures album with some pictures of friends and family here and there.  Feature a ridiculous picture of you and your friends dressed up on Halloween to show that you’ve got a killer sense of humor; put up a picture of you and your younger sibling to get a few “AWW, so adorable!” comments beneath it.  As superficial as Facebook can be, try your best to represent yourself as more than just a pretty face.

You’re part of a “pack” when you go out.
Despite your friends’ steadfast devotion to the “Come together, leave together,” mantra, sometimes it can be okay to let loose on that rule.  If you walk into the party in a pack of 9+ and don’t leave each others’ sides the entire night, people will start to wonder why you’re even out.  It’s okay to want to spend time with your closest friends, but at the end of the day, you’re going out at night to socialize with more than just a few of your favorite girls.  To avoid the need to stick to each others’ hips all night, plan a group dinner before the party for some girl-time.  Thereafter, take the rest of the night to catch up with people you don’t usually hang out with.  The last thing you want is to be the girls who stand in a circle all night and shut everyone else out. So while it’s fine to come and leave together, allow yourselves free-range at the actual party.
 
You stare right past people.
Some nights out can become particularly overwhelming, with people milling about everywhereand an enormous number of people you’ve never seen in your life.  Instead of walking past all these people as though they’re invisible, introduce yourself to a few new faces.  Snap out of that tunnel vision that silences you until you see someone you actually know.  And if a guy you don’t know approaches you first, don’t look at him like he has six heads.  Undoubtedly, there was a reason he came to talk to you – and it took some guts to actually do it – so don’t dismiss him by acting uninterested.  Talk to him for a fair amount of time until you deem him weird, boring or kind of annoying.  If his attempts at courtship fail to impress, don’t be rude and make him seem inadequate – if nothing else, you gained a new friend, and you have to give him credit for working up the nerve to approach you at all.
 
Your conversations are centered on your complaints.
Talking to a guy friend about how you feel like you’ve gained weight, your hair looks horrendous or your skin resembles the moon probably won’t go over well.  No one likes a Negative Nancy, and complaints about anything at all are enough to turn people away, guys in particular. He doesn’t know how to handle your girl problems, and chances are he doesn’t notice them unless you point them out.  And to his disadvantage, whatever his response to your complaints might be, he loses.  If he agrees that your pants do look a little tight, he gets a glare and maybe even a little slap; if he disagrees and says that you’ve never looked better, he’s accused of lying.  Either way, you end up being annoyed with him and whining a lot.  Leave him alone and keep your complaints to yourself (unless, of course, they have to do with him).

You talk about other people.

Nobody likes a gossip – especially guys.  Talking about other people behind their backs makes it seem like you have nothing substantial to say and nothing interesting to share about yourself.  Saying obnoxious things about people who are supposed to be your friends or spreading rumors about people you don’t even know is simply unattractive.  The person you’re talking to will wonder if you’re saying nasty things about him/her, too, and might even re-think your relationship.  Keep these thoughts to yourself, or better yet, try to eliminate them altogether.  These thoughts manifest themselves as facial expressions, and they speak volumes; the mark of a mean girl is the one who wears her not-so-nice thoughts clearly on her face.

So instead of donning your usual “I’m a badass betch” look as you stroll across campus, consider something more akin to an inviting smile.  Ditch the dark black shades while you’re inside, and distance yourself from the girls for a few minutes each night.  Allow yourself to come off as the nice girl you really are – make these quick fixes and be sure to a) meet a ton of new people, b) have a few great conversations, and/or c) go home with a really cute guy’s number. 

Mindy and Danny are finally together, and we couldn’t be happier about it! Here are just a few reasons why these two are our new favorite TV couple.

1. They can always be honest with each other…

2. …and they’re even open to criticism now and then.

3. They motivate each other to be better…

4. ...and as a result, they bring out the best in each other.

5. They always give each other the perfect gifts.

6. They feel comfortable sharing things with each other…

7. …and they feel comfortable being entirely themselves.

8. They can communicate without saying a word.

9. They’re always there for each other…

10. …and they never let other people get in the way.

11. They help each other get through the bad times.

12. Though they are candid with their evaluations of each other…

13. …they still love and accept each other just the way they are.

14. Best of all, when they finally kissed, it was everything we could have wanted and more.